Nanoencapsulation of B-toxin from herbal extracts: Targeting HTLV-1 protease and ATLL

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Chemistry, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran

2 Immunology Research Center, Inflammation and Inflammatory Diseases Division, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

3 Nanotechnology Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

10.22038/ijbms.2025.83900.18154

Abstract

Objective(s): Toxin B and isotoxin B (TB, isoTB) are major constituents of the Taxus baccata tree. This study investigates the inhibitory effect of TB and isoTB on adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), particularly on human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 protease (HTLV-1 PR). HTLV-1 protease (HTLV-1 PR) is an aspartic acid protease and a promising therapeutic target for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) PR inhibitors. 
Materials and Methods: The anticancer properties of T. baccata plant components encapsulated in PLGA nanoparticles (NPs/ PLGA/TB) were evaluated by in vitro assays using different cell lines. Cancerous cell lines, including HTLV-1-infected-MT2, were treated with varying concentrations of TB and alcoholic extract, and a combined peptide was designed and expressed using recombined NPs/PLGA/TB in a human Fc gamma1 (HTLV-1 PR: hFc gamma1) against HTLV-1. 
Results: Our results show that the viability of cancer cells after NPs/ PLGA/TB treatment significantly decreased in a time- and dose-dependent manner using the MTT assay. The inhibitory effect of NPs/ PLGA/TB on the HTLV-1-infected-MT2 cell line, in the absence of recombinant peptide, was (38.98 ± 0.23) and in the presence was (16.18 ± 2.03) in 72 hr (P<0.001). This indicates a double inhibitory effect in the presence of the peptide. The enzymatic effect of HTLV-1-protease on its fluorochrome substrate in the presence of TB and isoTB showed nearly complete enzyme inhibition. 
Conclusion: These findings present a promising avenue for introducing therapeutic agents with anticancer properties to treat progressive cancers, such as viral ATLL, and inducing effective antiviral responses.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences
Volume 28, Issue 8
August 2025
Pages 1047-1056

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